“We’re not gonna take it”: How Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider outclassed Congress censorship

The confrontation between Dee Snider and the U.S. Congress is one of the most memorable moments in the history of music and politics. It took place during the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) hearings in 1985. These hearings were held to address concerns about explicit content in rock and heavy metal music, particularly with regard to lyrics containing violence, drug use, and sexual themes.

In the mid-1980s, a group of Washington, D.C. women, including Tipper Gore (wife of then-Senator Al Gore), founded the PMRC to push for greater regulation of the music industry. They were particularly concerned about the growing presence of explicit content in music and wanted to impose labeling on albums with explicit lyrics, leading to the idea of the “Parental Advisory” sticker.

In 1985, the U.S. Senate held hearings on the topic, with several musicians, including Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, testifying before Congress to defend freedom of expression in music. The hearings were intended to determine whether Congress should pass laws to restrict access to explicit content in music.

Dee Snider was invited to testify before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in front of Senator Al Gore and his wife, Tipper Gore, who were among the primary proponents of the PMRC’s agenda. He showed up before Congress dressed casually and with a relaxed and self-confident demeanor, which contrasted with the wild, larger-than-life persona he projected on stage. He argued that the government should not regulate art or music and that parents, not the government, should be responsible for monitoring what their children listen to.

Dee Snider’s argument: Dee Snider eloquently and passionately explained that censorship would not solve the problem, stressing that music should not be censored based on its content. He famously noted that he did not want his music to be “censored or controlled” by any government body and that parental guidance, rather than government intervention, should be the solution.

Impactful exchange: During his testimony, Snider pointed out the hypocrisy of the PMRC, noting that while they were focusing on rock music, there were many other forms of entertainment (like TV and movies) that also contained explicit content. He argued that music had become a scapegoat for deeper societal issues.

Snider’s effectiveness: Snider’s calm and well-thought-out responses to the committee members, including his well-crafted defense of free speech and the role of parents in overseeing what their children consumed, made a significant impact. He won over many skeptics in the room and helped shift the debate away from censorship.